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KitchenAid Cordless vs. Chefman Cordless Side-by-Side Comparison




Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)7.9/10
- Design (20%)8.4/10
- Usability (30%)7.8/10
- Performance (50%)7.7/10
- Design (20%)7.4/10
- Usability (30%)8.8/10
Both share roughly the same performance and capability, with their efficiency in preparing frozen fruit smoothies being better than most mid-range immersion blenders. And they’re also capable of emulsifying mayonnaise. When it comes to beating eggs, neither cut the mustard, but this is a shortcoming of any blending shaft; in our hands-on testing, only with the whisk attachment could we create stiff peaks.
The two designs are quite similar, too. They both pack a catchy look and a simple working system. The precise indicator for battery status is a huge plus as well. Though, we prefer the colored LED ring of the Chefman Cordless to the light on the KitchenAid’s top.
KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender Performance
- Hot Soup Purée (35%)8.5/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)9.0/10
- Mayonnaise (15%)6.5/10
- Almond Milk (15%)8.3/10
- Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)0/10
- Hot Soup Purée (35%)7.0/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)9.0/10
- Mayonnaise (15%)8.8/10
- Almond Milk (15%)8.5/10
- Whipped Egg-Whites (10%)0/10
Hot Soup Purée
- Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: Slightly
This stylish hand blender worked quickly and made acceptable puree soup without a struggle. The sharp stainless steel blades allowed it to hot blend root veggies quite uniformly. Even fibrous ingredients like celery and onions ended up fully incorporated into the mixture.
Although the KitchenAid KHBBV53 didn’t create a perfect puree, our soup looked good and was much silkier than that produced by its competitors, such as the Mueller Ultra Stick and the Hamilton Beach 2-speed.
- Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: Slightly
The Chefman managed to create a serving of hot soup in 30 seconds. The soup wasn’t puréed to perfection since there was still a considerable amount of food flakes left behind, but for the most part, we were pleased with its smoothness. If you prefer your purée to be smoother, blend longer. (Or consider other models like the Vitamix 5-speed, the Braun MultiQuick-5, and the KitchenAid cordless hand blender.)
Frozen Fruit Smoothie
- Blending Time: 1 min
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: Yes
Featuring multiple speed settings, this KitchenAid KHBBV53 pulverized all the ingredients with ease, which was really surprising.
The blending process also went as smoothly, though, at certain points, fruits got trapped under the blades, demanding us to stop the machine and dislodge the food. Plus, to achieve an even blend, we had to move the blending wand as constantly and consistently as we could. However, that didn’t make us feel frustrated, especially given that the result was exactly what we’d like — it looked silky and more than appetizing. If you buy this blender, we believe no smoothie recipe could overwhelm it.
- Blending Time: 1 min 10 secs
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: No
At the highest speed setting, our Chefman broke down all the ingredients quite easily — better and faster, in fact, than we expected from a blender in this segment. The test smoothie came out with a satisfying texture, combining smooth, pulverized fruits with the green of kale for a nice, chilled mouthfeel.
Mayonnaise
- Emulsifying Time: 1 mins 54 secs
- Result: Quite thin
- Suction: No
As a battery-powered blender, the KitchenAid KHBBV53 didn’t work as quickly as its corded counterparts. In fact, it was about 50% slower than the fastest Cuisinart Smart Stick even though it sells for nearly double the price.
On the bright side, the KitchenAid produced acceptable mayonnaise. Although the sauce didn’t look as creamy as we’d like, its smooth and fluffy texture would be enough for any salad.
- Emulsifying Time: 1 min 30 secs
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: No
Emulsifying with the blending shaft, this Chefman cordless blender passed the mayonnaise test within a minute and a half, which was slightly faster than average. The final mayonnaise looked smooth and was well emulsified, sharing a similar texture with those produced by a whisk attachment, such as the Cuisinart’s.
Almond Milk
- Grinding Time: 50 secs
- Result: Coarse
- Suction: No
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 is adequate for preparing non-dairy milk, but isn’t deserving of much praise. Of all the blenders we tested, this was the only one that created a foamy texture as a result of too much incorporated air. We removed the foam during the straining process so it didn’t impair the milk’s quality in the end. But it’s worth noting that the milk would have overflowed onto the countertop if we hadn’t paused periodically to stir it back into the jar with a long spoon.
Moreover, this blender didn’t blend as evenly or as consistently as its mid-range counterparts, namely the Braun MultiQuick-5. Consequently, our milk didn’t get all the flavor out of the almonds. It was still an acceptable alternative to store-bought almond milk, but not ideal.
- Grinding Time: 1 min 10 secs
- Result: Very Fine
- Suction: Yes
The Chefman cordless device may not be a bad option when you’re making nut milk. Just make sure to use a blending beaker with sufficient capacity.
Our drink was creamy and packed with characteristic almond flavor so we think you will love it as much as we do. During our test, the blender did, unfortunately, suction itself to the beaker's bottom, causing the mixture to splatter every time we moved the blending wand. However, this wasn’t only about the suction — things would work better if we used a larger beaker.
Whipped Egg-Whites
- Beating Time: N/A
- Result: N/A
- Suction: N/A
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 was doomed to failure in this test since there was no way its blending wand could draw enough air into the egg-whites to form them properly. As a result, it left us with a cloudy cup of two separate layers: bubbly film and eggy water. Other blenders with whisking attachments, on the other hand, achieved stiff peaks quite easily.
- Beating Time: N/A
- Result: N/A
- Suction: N/A
This machine’s blending shaft was unable to beat the eggs, but it shares this shortcoming with most blending shafts. If you want your machine to properly whip the eggs, we recommend choosing one that comes with a whisk attachment, such as the KOIOS 4-in-1. A whisk’s many thin wires will uncurl the protein strands of the egg whites and incorporate air into them. That way, stiff eggy peaks are able to form and stay stable.
KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender Design
- Blending Shaft (30%)7.8/10
- Build Quality (60%)8.5/10
- Battery (5%)10/10
- Beaker (5%)10/10
- Blending Shaft (30%)7.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
- Battery (5%)10/10
- Beaker (5%)0/10
In the Box of the KitchenAid Cordless Various Speed Hand Blender
- Motor body
- Blending shaft
- 24-oz beaker with lid
- Pan guard
- Charger adapter
- User manual
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 set includes 6 pieces as outlined above. If you’re looking for a more versatile blender, consider upgrading instead to the KitchenAid KHBBV83. That version works just as efficiently but comes with the whisk and chopper attachments to further enable your culinary creativity.
- Motor body
- Blending shaft
- Blade guard
- Blade edge guard
- Charger adapter & USB cord
- User manual
Beyonds the two main components, the Chefman also comes with a pot & pan guard to prevent scratches on your cookware and a blade guard so you can cover the blade entirely while your blender is not in use.
Dimensions
- Height:17.0" (43.2 cm)
- Width:2.6" (6.6 cm)
- Weight:2.0 lbs (0.9 kg)
- Shaft Length:8.0" (20.3 cm)
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 is well-balanced with a satisfying, weighty feel. It’s really comfortable to hold and the long blending shaft can reach deep into large pots.
- Height:16.4" (41.7 cm)
- Width:2.3" (5.8 cm)
- Weight:1.4 lbs (0.6 kg)
- Shaft Length:8.2" (20.8 cm)
This Chefman is the right size to fit comfortably in your palm. At 1.4 pounds, it is a bit on the light side, but so are most immersion blenders that are made of standard plastic.
Build Quality
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 is quite an expensive blender, so we’re happy to say its solid construction delivers on that price tag. As a mid-range blender, it doesn’t look as sleek as the premium ones (for example, the Vitamix 5-speed), but this doesn’t mean it’s less durable. Although it is mostly made of plastic, it seems to be high quality and the metal parts resist corrosion pretty well. So far, we haven't noticed any damage on the exterior, even though discoloration is fairly common among immersion blenders with plastic components.
The blending shaft, on the other hand, leaves a bit to be desired. Its blade guard is made of stainless steel but looks relatively flimsy and doesn’t have a good finish. It is flecked with countless black spots which can’t be wiped off. That certainly ruins the interior’s shine but doesn’t impair operation.
The Chefman provides a medium level of quality at a very reasonable price. With a black-clad exterior all around, the motor looks charming and notably elegant. After a course of testing, we found a smattering of tiny scratches around this part, but they’re not too noticeable unless you look closely.
Blending Shaft
- Material:Stainless steel
- Type:Sharp Blade
- Guard Material:Stainless steel (With plastic pan guard)
- Blade Count:2
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 features two-pronged blades which can withstand consistent use pretty well but don’t look as impressive as the higher-priced counterparts, such as the Vitamix.
Blending with this blender is a pleasure since its blade housing helps limit the splattering. Although the guard is made of metal, it won’t leave scratches on your cookware’s interior if you attach the included plastic pan guard. In our initial soup test, we immersed our blender — with that pan guard attached — into a glass pot and noticed zero damage.
- Material:Stainless steel
- Type:Sharp blade
- Guard Material:Stainless steel
- Blade Count:2
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The whole blending shaft is made of standard stainless steel, but after several uses, we nevertheless found a small rust spot on the blade guard. We’ve tested a myriad of immersion blenders and noticed that rust is rare. We can’t say for sure whether the rust will spread, but if it does, the machine’s integrity and appearance will be severely impaired.
The level of craftsmanship of the blade guard is okay overall but it could stand some improvements. The holes in the guard, for instance, look non-uniform and slightly misshapen.
The blade has two prongs: one is sharp and the other is dull. It’s sturdy enough to puree nearly all kinds of soft foods. It can even make quick work of emulsifying, so you can prepare mayonnaise or any other sauce that needs a creamy, stable base.
Speed and Controls of the KitchenAid Cordless Immersion Blender
- Control Type:Press
- Min Speed:9,240 RPM
- Max Speed:11,650 RPM
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:70 dB
- Digital Display:Yes
- Pulse Mode:No
This blender offers multiple speed options and its trigger switch is extremely responsive. In a departure from most, the speed is determined by the amount of pressure you apply to the trigger. Your blender will run at its highest speed if you press the controller all the way down.
There is also a palm switch on the blender’s backside which acts as a safety mechanism. To blend, you must hold that switch down along with the trigger switch. We personally appreciate that idea since it helps prevent the motor from being accidentally engaged and hurting someone.
Although the KitchenAid KHBBV53 doesn’t feature a separate switch for a pulse function, you can also get plenty of control over your chopping preparations by pressing the trigger in short bursts.
- Control Type:Press-button
- Min Speed:10,500 RPM
- Max Speed:14,333 RPM
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:72 dB
- Digital Display:No
- Pulse Mode:No
You control this blender’s multiple speeds by varying the pressure on the trigger switch in front. The harder you press, the faster the blade will spin. There is also the safety lock button on the device’s rear. Both buttons must be engaged before the motor will turn. Fortunately, both of them are very sensitive, so you won’t need much pressure to get the job done.
Your Chefman doesn’t have a pulse function, but you can still chop food evenly by pressing and releasing the buttons in short intervals.
Beaker
- Material:Plastic
- Capacity:24.0 fl oz (709.8 ml)
- Measurements:Yes
- Weight:0.2 oz (7 g)
- Height:6.5" (16.5 cm)
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
- Tamper Included:No
Our set included a single-serve jar which is BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher-safe. As a nice bonus, the jar features a thin rubber ring on the bottom to keep it stable while blending. It also includes a tight-seal black lid for fresher on-the-go drinks.
- Material:N/A
- Capacity:NaN fl oz (NaN ml)
- Measurements:N/A
- Weight:NaN oz (NaN g)
- Height:NaN" (NaN cm)
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Tamper Included:N/A
The set doesn’t include a blending beaker, but you can purchase this add-on from any retailer.
Battery
- Status Indicator:Yes
- Full Charging Time:2 hours
- Quick Charging Time:20 minutes
- Charger Adapter:2-prong Plug, 100-240 V input
- Charger Adapter Pin:round, 3.5 mm, 14 V output - 0.8A
- Charger Length:6 ft
The lithium-ion battery can keep the power going long enough for approximately 25 medium bowls of soup if fully charged for 2 hours. The 0.5-amp charger ensures speedy recharging for the first 20 minutes (that takes it from 0% to 30%). With a quick charge, your blender will be set for a batch of purees or smoothies. Our real-world experience, though, suggests that the advertised charging performance can only be achieved at room temperature rather than in the cold of winter.
The light on the top indicates the battery status. It turns green when the blender is fully powered and reminds you to consider charging when it turns yellow or red.
- Status Indicator:Yes
- Full Charging Time:2 hours
- Quick Charging Time:N/A
- Charger Adapter:2-prong plug, 100-240 V input
- Charger Adapter Pin:USB-C, 5.0 V output - 2.0A
- Charger Length:3.6 ft.
After a full 2-hour charging session, the battery will hold enough power for 18-20 minutes of blending. The LED ring on the top shows the battery level or charging status. It will be a steady blue while the charge is above 50%, but when the battery drains down to below that point, it will turn orange or red before powering off. Note that you can also use your blender for a quick task without charging it to 100%.
Extra Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Removable:N/A
This blender set doesn’t come with any extra blending attachment.
- Material:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Removable:N/A
No extra blending attachments are included.
KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender Usability Review
- Ease of Use (60%)7.9/10
- Blade Assembly (10%)7.5/10
- Handling (20%)7.5/10
- Cleanability (10%)8.0/10
- Ease of Use (60%)8.8/10
- Blade Assembly (10%)9.5/10
- Handling (20%)9.0/10
- Cleanability (10%)8.0/10
Ease of Use
The KitchenAid KHBBV53 is intuitive to use but maneuvering it isn’t as easy. More often than not, we had a hard time with our blending motions since this machine created a bit too much suction. Every time it sucked tight to the blending container’s bottom, we would hardly stir or draw it up without causing a mess.
Additionally, it took us a bit of practice to be proficient at using the speed controller. To hit the maximum speed, we simply press the switch all the way down, but things are complicated when you want a mid-range speed.
Not only that, but we also felt quite apprehensive trying to figure out how to speed up or slow down on our own. The user manual doesn’t provide any instructions for that. It even doesn’t explain that the speed trigger switch is pressure sensitive.
Maneuvering the Chefman is particularly easy and usually doesn’t splatter ingredients around. With the exception of the almond milk test, we didn’t have much trouble with our blending motions; this blender suctioned itself only lightly to the beaker’s bottom.
Most of our testers also praised its pressure-sensitive speed controller, though a few got frustrated trying to switch between mid-range speeds. Either way, it does take some time to get a feel for the speed controls.
The removable plastic guard covers the metal blade housing to minimize scratches on your pots and pans. With it in place, you can be less timid with your motions.
Blade Assembly
We set up our blender by aligning the blending wand to the motor body until they locked in place. To disassemble, we turned the attachment counterclockwise and then pulled it out from the body. That sounds as easy as one-two-three, but since this blender doesn’t include a release button like most others, removal demands more pulling force, which may be trickier to do if your hands are oily.
The shaft-release button not only helps reinforce the connection between the motor housing and the blending wand, but it also allows for easier disassembly. Simply press this button and pull the blending wand to separate the two parts. Setting up the blender is straightforward as well; align the motor body housing with the blending shaft and push them together until you hear them click.
Handling
This blender is comfortable to hold thanks to the ergonomically-designed handle, but the slick, polished finish will be slippery when it’s oily or wet. This can make your grip unstable, especially if your hands fatigue quickly.
Our Chefman let us blend in comfort thanks to the ergonomically designed handle. It didn’t get slippery even when our hands were oily during the mayonnaise test. The stable grip it provides is meaningful, especially if your hands fatigue quickly.
Cleanability
The blending wand is dishwasher-safe, so cleaning will not be a challenging task. However, if you clean it manually, getting the blades’ backsides to sparkle again is almost impossible without a bottle-cleaning brush.
Following each test, we used a soapy sponge to scrub away the food tailings and most of the residue rinsed off easily. However, we couldn’t simply wipe away all sticky remnants (like mayonnaise) that clung stubbornly in the back of the blades. Instead, we had to use a straw-cleaning brush to get into those hard-to-reach spaces.
All removable parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, but we prefer to clean them by hand since it’s faster and practically effortless. Following each test, we scrubbed away the food tailings with a soapy sponge. Most of the residue rinsed off easily, including the bits stuffed up behind the blades.